Number 52: Weezer (Blue Album) by Weezer
Release: May 10th, 1994
Genre: Alternative
Favorite Tracks: Holiday, Surf Wax America, Only in Dreams
Where I heard it:
Like plenty of angsty teenagers, Weezer was instrumental in helping me find my way through an awkward period of life. Hormones and emotions are all out of whack, heartbreak is rampant, and sad boy hours were in full effect. I had a playlist on my iPod my junior year full of songs that attempted to cure (or in most cases validate) my depressive episodes, containing both Undone (the Sweater Song) and Only in Dreams. I distinctly remember sitting in my bed in the midnight hours, softly playing these sad songs over my speaker and gently weeping myself to sleep. That sounds pretty miserable, but it's a little pathetic in retrospect when I equate the problems back then to the obstacles of today. Maybe it's time to dust off that old playlist! In any case, I resonated closely with the wistful and gloomy lyrics at the time, but this attitude isn't the most prevalent on Weezer's Blue Album.
You can't resist her
She's in your bones
She is your marrow
And your ride home
You can't avoid her
She's in the air
In between molecules
Of oxygen and carbon dioxide
~ Only In Dreams
What to expect:
From one look at the cover of their iconic Blue Album, it's clear that Weezer weren't destined for the lavish lifestyle of rock superstardom. Fresh into their 20s, the band had a tough time marketing their brand of soft garage rock during the grunge-dominated 90s. Their initial popularity rose thanks to airtime of the music videos for Undone - The Sweater Song and Buddy Holly on MTV. While audiences craved grittier and edgier material, Weezer remained faithful to their basic song structure that duplicates the rhythm guitar and bass lines for a more reenforced sound. Most of these guitar lines are nothing to write home about, but there do exist a few catchy hooks featured on My Name is Jonas and Surf Wax America. This sturdy backbone serves as the template for frontman Rivers Cuomo to integrate his tender singing voice, whether it's the reserved verses of Say It Ain't So or a more full-bodied approach in No One Else. Cuomo also shoulders the responsibility of songwriting, merging juvenile humor and quick wit to create songs that don't come off whiny or complaintive. Not alone in his efforts, the remaining members of the band provide instances of harmonization that shine through brightest in the closing moments of The World Has Turned and Left Me Here and Holiday. The juxtaposition between heavy guitar distortion and clean vocals brings out the finer qualities of each respective medium. In this regard, the Blue Album models itself in a similar fashion to rock legends The Beach Boys with a modern twist. It took a few years for Weezer to reach their demographic, but it's safe to say the group has found its footing over the tenure of their three decade career.
I've got a Dungeon Master's guide
I've got a 12-sided die
I've got Kitty Pryde and Nightcrawler too
Waiting there for me, yes I do
I've got posters on the wall
My favorite rock group KISS
I've got Ace Frehley, I've got Peter Criss
Waiting there for me, yes I do
~ In the Garage
Why it's my favorite:
Weezer has never been about technically advanced licks or lyrics worthy of a dissertation, but instead embraces musical simplicity in order to closer relate to the listener. Cuomo isn't afraid to bear his heart on his sleeve and swing the doors open to his life experiences. The Blue Album is riddled with pop culture references to Marvel superheroes, Dungeons & Dragons, and rock influences that establish a connection between Cuomo and the listener towards coming of age as a twenty-something. I remember listening to In the Garage as a kid and thinking, "Wow! These guys are just like me!". There's a sense of comfort in relatability towards your favorite artists, and Weezer are so down-to-earth in their songwriting that it's really only a matter of time until a line in a song rings true to the individual. The Blue Album is as straightforward as can be; what you see is what you get. Out of all the spectacular productions I've enjoyed, it's nice to hear an album like this one that just keeps it real and does so exceptionally well.
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